Electrically-operated hoisting apparatus.



P. E. LUTZ.

ELEUTRIGALLY OPERATED HOISTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY '1, 1910.

1,015,901, Patented Jan.30, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

mmsssis: INVE/VTUH F. E. LUTZ.

ELEGTRIOALLY OPERATED HOISTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY '7, 1910. 1,015,901. Patented Jan.30,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR WITNESSES:

F. E. LUTZ.

ELEOTRIGALLY OPERATED HOISTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 7, 1910.

1,015,901. Patented Jan.30, 1912.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

F/GJS.

WITNESSES; lf/VE N 70/? N407 PM ATTORNEYS.

I FRANK EDWARD LU'I'Z, OF PHILADELPHIA, PEZIEIIN'SYIEN'ANIA.

ELECTlICAIiLY-OPERLTED HOIBTING APPARATFS.

. Patented Jan. 30, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK EDWARD Ln'rz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Philadelphia, county of-Philadelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and :useful Improvement. in Electricall Operated'I-Ioisting Apparatus, of which t e following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the a'ccom anying drawings, which form a part 0 this specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in limiting the movement of machinery or apparatus propelled by electric motors, as, for instance, the limiting of the lifting or lowerin of hoisting apparatus or the hmiting of t e vertical or horizontal movement of other moving apparatus.

More particularly, the invention consists of means for controlling a switch, whereby in one posit-ion of the switch the current can pass in either direction to the motor, while in another position of the switch it can pass in one direction only.

It further consists of means for automatically throwing the switch from the first named position to the second named position when the apparatus has reached a given point in its travel in one direction, thereby permitting the apparatus to travel only in the reverse direction from the point of limit.

It further consists of means for automatically returning the switch to its first named position after the apparatus has traveled a given distance in sald reverse direction.

' It consists, further, of means operated by the hoisting drum, and more specifically, of means mounted on a nut on the shaft ofthe drum adapted, through intermediate mechanism, to controlthe actuation of said switch.

It further consists of certain details of construct-ion of the apparatus having the stated mode of operation.

I will now describe an embodiment of my invention as applied to a hoisting aparatus, as shown in the accompanying rawings, in which Figure 1 is a electric circuits. Fig. 2 is an elevation, partly in section, of the hoisting drum. and the switch-actuating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail View of the controlling switch and its immediateactuating mechanism. Figs. 4 to 10 inclusive are diagrams illustrating the operation of the controlling switch.

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the position diagrammatic view of the of the switch-actuating mechanism when.

the switch-actuating spring is broken. Figs. 12 to 15 inclusive are end views of the nut, guiding-arm, sleeve and washer respectively, showing means for-making fine adjustments of the nut and washer.

7 UNITED eawmoma.

a is thewinding drum, 1) the motor, c a

gear on the motor shaft, d a large gear on shaft c with which gear a meshes, f a small gear on shaft 6 meshing with gear '9 on drum shaft h.

Z is the reversing switch, at the lead wire from one pole of current sup ly and n the lead wire to the other pole. n this circuit is interposed a .controllin switch havin the spring contacts 0 an 32 in electrica connection with .wires of the circuit. In addition to the contacts 0 and p .are the somewhat tighter auxiliary contacts q and r, the purpose of which will hereinafter be fully described.

The switch proper consists of the blade ,3 towhich one wire of thecircuit connects and j is the armature of the motor and k the the circuit passes through the blade to the one ofthe contacts 0 or p to which the blade is connected. The blade is pivotally mounted at m. A bracket pivoted on the axisof the blade, comprises an upwardly extending central arm t, arms 4), a on opposite sides of the'arm t, and a depending cam w. A spring i connects arm t with a pin .2 on the blade 8. When the bracket is swung in'one direction (say to the right from the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3) it throws the spring y into tension and when the inturned projection on the end of the'arm '2; strikes the blades and moves it sufliciently to free the'blade from the contact g the s ring y 'snaps the blade 8 across the space etween contacts and into electrical connectionfwith the other contacts p, a".- The auxiliary spring clips or contacts 9 and 1' insure the proper holding of the blade until one of the arms positively moves the blade, thereby insuring the operation of the switch at a definite time.

On the end of the drum shaft is a worm 1- on whichworks a nut 2. The nut is held from turning by means of an arm 3 screwed tothe nut ,b'ylmeansof screws 20 and depending therefrom and slidably engaging a bar 13 arranged parallel with the worm and drum-shaft. Therefore, as drum-shaft andworm revolves, the nut 2 moves toward or from the drum-shaft. On the worm l is a sleeve 4, the outer shouldered-end of which extends into a recess in the nut 2 and is held therein .by means of a washer 14 fastened to the nut by means of screws 22 and engaging the shoulder on the sleeve. The sleeve-4 is splined on the worm and is therefore rotated by it whlle freeto move longitudinally. Secured to the inner flanged head 5 of the sleeve 4, by means of screws 21, is a Washer 6 having a spur 7 extending toward the drum-shaft.

8 is a trip lever which is pivot-ally mounted between its ends on the worm 1. On the opposite arms of the trip lever are. formed orfastened the trip cams 9 and 10, which are insulated electrically from" the body of the trip-lever 8. The middle part or hub of the trip-lever 8 is of segmental shape and is provided with a transverse groove or recess 11 adapted to receive the spur 7 as hereinafter described.

12 is a lug secured to the outer face of the lever 8 immediately adjacent to one wall of the recess 11.

The shouldered end of the sleeve 4is of less thickness than the depth of the recessin nut 2, therefore leaving aspace or clearance between said shouldered end and recess, which permits the nut 2 to move a limited distance from either of its extreme positions before imparting. a longitudinal movement to the sleeve.

16 isa weight on trip 10, said weight, together withthe extra weight of the hub of lever 8, holding the trip lever in the normal position shown in Fig. 3 whenspr'ing y is in position, but adapted to throw the trip lever out of normal position if spring 3 should break or become unfastened as shown in Fig. 11 and hereinafter described. i 18 is a sleeve fastened to the worm 1 and holding the trip lever in place. 1

' Initially, when the drum is being operated to wind up the rope, the controlling switch is in the normal'posit-ion shown in Figs. 1

and 3, and the reversing switch is in the position shown in Fig. 1. The current then passes through the circuit as indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. 1. If the reversing .switch be reversed, the current passes through the same circuit, but in the opposite directionp Assuming that the reversing switch is moved into the position shown in Fig. 1,' thereby dictating the rotation of the drum (1 to wind up the rope, the nut 2 travels toward the drum-shaft, and after taking up the clearance between it and. sleeve 4, pushes the sleeve 4 and washer 6 before it, the sleeve and washer revolving with the worm '1. The spur 7 on washer 6 and the; lug 12'on trip-- lever 8 are" so adjusted" that. they just clear each other. on next to the last revolution.

In the last revolution, spur 7 engages lug 12,'and, as it continues to revolve, carries the trip lever with it away from the position shown in Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrow. After .the-trip-lever has made about one-third of a revolution, the long face of trip 10 engages and passes under the cam w starting point, the short face of the trip 9 has engaged the-cam w and thrown it from right to left, bringing the accelerating spring y into full tension, as shown in Fig. 5, and the inturned end of arm 4) is forcing the. switch blade 8 away from between the clips of the contact 9. As soon as blade .9 clears contact g, the spring 3 snaps the switch blade across the space between contacts and into engagement with the contacts ;0 andr orinto the position shown in Fig.

6. In the meantime spur 7 has advanced still farther into the recess 11, and the trip-- lever 8 has made about nine-tenths of a revolution. As soon as the controlling switch has moved into the .last described position (as shown in F ig. 6) no current will pass to the motor with the reversing switch in the full-line position shown in Fig. 1. If,'however, the reversing switch be reversed, current will then pass as indicated by the dotted arrows, Fig. 1, reversing the motor to unwind the drum. It will thus be seen that after the tripping mechanism has acted to throw the switch-blade into the position shown in-Fig. 6, it is impossible to operate the drum except to unwind. Assuming that the reversing switch has been moved into the dotted line position, Fig. 1, thereby dictatingthe rotation of the drum to unwindg'the spur 7 will at once engage the op posite wall of'the recess 11 (see Fig. 7). The nut 2 will first take up the clearance between it and the sleeve 4, after which it will pull sleeve 4 with it. The spur 7, by reason of its position in recess 11, rotates the triplever 8 in the opposite direction. Just before the trip-lever reaches the position shown in Fig. 9, the short side of trip 10 has engaged cam w, the spring 3 has been thrown into tension, the arm o of the switch-operating'bracket has released blade 8 from contact 1* and the spring y has thrown the blade 8 into engagement with contacts 0 and 9. After the switch is reset, a slight further turning of the trip-lever 8 moves the switch operating bracket still farther to the left, causing the arm '0 to reiingage the switch blade (see Fig. 9') and move it all the way back between the blades of the tight contact 9. The function of the clearance between nut 2 and sleeve 4 is to allow the spur 7 to remain in the recess 12 a longer time than would otherwise be possible. It will also be observed that while it is necessary to turn the trip-lever nearly an entire revolution to move the controlling switch away from its normal position, only about onehalf a revolutidn is required to reset the switch to normal position. These,

features of structure and operation insure that the spur 7 shall have sufiiciently wide bearing engagement against the wall of the recess during the resetting operation. After the trip-bracket 8 has made about ninetenths of a revolution in the reverse direction, it has been returned to normal position, as shown in Fig. 10. At about this point, the spur 7 has entirely withdrawn from re- Cess 11, and in its continued rotation in the same direction, will retreat a sufficient distance farther to clear the lug 12. As soon as the controlling switch has been reset, as indicated in Fig. 10 and in full lines in Fig. 1, current will continue to flow to' the motor in the same direction as before the controlling switch was reset, but it will flow from the reversing switch through the circuit indicated in Fig. 1 by solid arrows of course in a direction opposite to that indicated by those arrows. The drum will therefore continue to unwind until the reversing switch is moved into the full-line position indicated in Fig. 1. If, in hoisting, that is, in moving the drum to wind the rope, the point at which the limit of movement is fixed has been almost but not quite reached, and arm 1) has forced switch blade 8 almost out of the clips of contact 9, but not quite far enough for spring 3 to snap the blade across the air-space, and if at this point the reversing switch be operated'to reverse the movement of the drum, trip 10, in its return to normal position, would again force switch blade 8 all the way back between the clips. At no time, therefore, is it possible to operate for any appreciable period without full contact of switch blade and contact clips.

Referring to Fig, 11: If, for any reason, the spring 3 should break or (as shown) become disengaged, the spring 3 will nolonger, through cam to, hold the trip lever 8 in normal position, but the latter, due to the weight 16 and the extra weight of its hub, will push up the cam w, pass under the same, and swing into the balanced position shown in Fig. 11. The trip lever 8 then hangs with the short faces of both trips 9 and 10 toward cam w. This position of the trip lever 8 is such that, upon operation by the spur 7, it will actuate the cam w to positively swing the switch-blade s from one set of contacts to the other about one full turn of the drum before the normal point of limit is reached. This will be understood b' bearing in mind that when the trip lever is in the osition shown in Fig. 3, the spur 7 is moved far enough in to be in line with lug 12 a half turn or so before it reaches lug 12. It will be noticed that when the trip lever drops into the position shown in Fig. 11, it turns back about three-eighths of a turn, as may be seen by comparing Figs. 3 and 11. There is therefore nothing to prevent spur 7 from'engaging lug 12, when the trip lever is in the position shown in Fig. 11, earlier than when the trip lever is in the position shown in Fig. 3. Now, as soon as tripleveris moved nearly back to the normal position from which ithas dropped, the bracket is operated to operate the switch. That is, the switch is operated about one full turn of spur 7 before the 'switch would be operated if the trip lever .were, at the start, in the normal position 7 shown in Fig. 3; in other words, the switch is operated when the spur 7 and trip lever 8 pass a short distance beyond the position shown in Fig. 6. The operator, being thus unable to hoist up to the normal point of limit, will therefore be apprised of the accident to the controlling-switch operative mechanism. Further, under the conditions specified, there are no means for resetting the switch 8 automatically, since the spur 7 will clear the lug 12 and release the arm 8 before it reaches the position shown in Fig.

9'; and if the operator should reverse the reversing, switch so as to operate the drum to unwind, and then, after descending return the reversing switch, the result would be to entirely out off the current to the motor, requirin the operator to repair or restore the spring 23 before further operation of the apparatus is possible. Thus, too, the switch will be saved from the destructive arcing that would occur if there were no spring to snap the switch rapidly across the space between contacts. Of course, it will be understood that the operator could reverse the switch 8 by hand and then operate to wind, but the same conditions just described would recur before the normal point of limit is reached.

In Figs. 12 and 13 are shown means for adjusting the nut 2 in definite position on the worm 1. 2 2*, 2 2", 2, 2, 2 2 are eight screw holes drilled and tapped in the nut 2 at equal distances from each other, and at equal distances from the center of the nut. 3 3*, 3 3", 3, 3, 3 ,34, are similar screw holes in the circular head of the depending guiding bar 3. These holes in the head of the guide bar are in such position that the nut may be adjusted one thirty-second of a turn from any given position. For example, the screws 20 may engage holes 2 and 3. If

the nut be turned one thirty-second of a turn from the given position in a clockwise direction, holes 2 will aline with holes 3 If the nut be turned another thirty-second of a turn, holes 2 will aline with holes 3. Ifgfihe nut be turned another thirty-second of a turn, holes 2 will aline with holes 3 If the nut be turned another thirty-second of a turn, or one-eighth of aturn from its original given position, holes 2 will aline with holes 3. Thus, at each thirty-second of a turn entirely around the nut, certain holes in the nut will be alined with certain holes in the head of the guide bar.

In Figs. 14 and 15 are shown similar means for adjusting the spur Washer 6 on the sleeve 4. Sleeve 4: is shown as provided with uniformly spaced holes 4, 4, 4 and 4 similar in number and arrangement to the holes in nut 2. Washer 6 is shown as provided with unequally spaced holes 6*, 6 6 and 6 similar in number and arrangement to the holes in the head of bar 3. The number of adjustments thirty-two to the turnis purely arbitrary and may be varied by a diiferent number and arrangement of holes arranged on the same principle.

Having noW fully described my invention, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a trip lever pivoted between its ends and havin trip cams at opposite ends, a rotating mem er, means adapted to be operated by the rotating member and adapted to operate the trip lever, and switch operating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip cams.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a trip cam having a relatively short face on one side and a relatively long inclined face on the other side, a rotating member, means operated by the rotating member adapted to operate the trip cam in opposite directions, and switch operating mechanism having a double faced camfadapted to be engaged and operated by the long and short faces respectively of the trip cam in opposite directions of movement of the latter.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a trip lever pivoted between its ends and having trip cams at opposite ends, each trip cam having along face and a short face, the two long faces being on one side of the lever and the two short faces on the other side of the lever, a rotating member, means adapted to beoperated by the rotating member and adapted to operate the trip lever, and switch-operating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip cams.

t. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a triplever pivoted between its ends and having trip cams at opposite ends, a. rotating member, means adapted to be operated by the rotating member and adapted to operate the trip lever, a bracket adapted to be engaged and operated by said cams, and a switch blade connected with,-and adapted to be operated by said bracket.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotating drum, a shaft rotating with said drum and having a worm, a nut working on said worm, a motor for operating said drum, switch operating mechanism, having two operative positions, for controlling the circuit to the motor, means turnable with the worm and connected with the nut so as to be movable therewith, two trip cams, adapted to be operated by said means, said switch operating mechanism being in line of travel of said trip cams and adapted to be engaged by both trip cams at different points in the rotation of said drum and adapted to be operated by one or the other of said cams dependent upon the direction in which said shaft is rotated.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, a rotating member actuated by the motor, means actuated by and movable longitudinally of said rotating member, a spur, a. member carrying said spur, connected with both the rotating member and the longitudinally movable means and thereby movable longitudinally and rotatably, a trip lever pivoted on the axis of the spurca-rrying member, said trip lever having a recess adapted to be engaged by said spur, a switch in the motor circuit, and switchoperating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip lever.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, switch operating mechanism for controlling said circuit, a rotating member actuated. by said motor, a worm rotating with the rotating member, a nut working on theworm, a sleeve splined on the worm shaft and connected with said nut and movable thereby along the shaft, a recessed trip lever pivoted on the axis of said worm, and a spur connected with said sleeve and adapted to engage said recess, said switch-optiating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip lever.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, a rotating member actuated by the motor, means actuated by and movable longitudinally of said rotating member, a spur, a member carrying said spur, connected with both the rotating member-and the longitudinally movable means and thereby movable longitudinally and rotatably, a trip lever pivoted on the axis of the spur-carryadapted to be engaged by said spur, a switch in the motor circuit, and switch-operating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip lever.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, switch operating mechanism for controlling said circuit, a rotating member actuated by said motor, a worm rotating with the'rotating member, a nut working on the worm, a sleeve splined on the worm shaft and connected with said nut and movable thereby along the shaft, a trip lever pivoted on the axis of said worm, a lug on said trip lever, and a spur connected with said sleeve, and adapted to engage said lug in its turning movement, said switch-operating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip lever.

10. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, switch operating mechanism for controlling said circuit, a rotating member actuated by said motor, a worm rotating with the rotating member, a nut working on the worm, a sleeve splined on the worm shaft and connected with said nut and movable thereby along said shaft, a trip lever pivoted onthe axis of said worm, a lug-on said trip lever, and a spur connected with said sleeve, and adapted to engage said lug in its turning movement, there'being a recess adjacent to the lug into which said spur is adapted to move in its further turning movement, said switch-operating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip lever.

11. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotating member, a motor adapted to actuate the same, a motor circuit, switch operating mechanism for varying said circuit, a worm rotating with the rotating member, a nut working on the worm, a sleeve splined on the worm shaft and connected with said nut and movable thereby along'the shaft, said nut having a limited movement independent of the sleeve, a trip lever pivoted on the axis of said worm, a lug on said trip lever and-a spur connected with said sleeve and adapted to engage said lug 'in its turning movement, there being a recess adjacent to the lug into which said spur is adapted to move in its further turning movement, said switch operating mechanism adapted to be engaged and operated by said trip lever in'the latters movement in both directions.

12. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, a rotating member actuated by the motor, means actuated by and movable lon-.

gitudinally of said rotating member, a spur, a member carrying said spur, connected with both the rotating member and the longitudinally movable means and thereby movable longitudinally and rotatably, a trip lever pivoted on the axis of the spur-carrying member, a lug on said trip lever adapted to be engaged by said spur,. there being a recess adjacent to said lug into which said spur is adapted to move in its further turning movement, a switch in the motor circuit and switch-operating mechanism a-d'apted to be operated in one direction a given movement of the trip lever in one direction and adapted to be operated in the opposite direction by a shorter movement of the trip lever in the other direction.

13. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a rotating member, a motor adapted to actuate the same, a niotor circuit, switch operating mechanism for varying said circuit, a worm rotating with the rotating member, a nut working on the worm, a sleeve splined on the worm shaft and connected with said nut and movable thereby along the shaft, a washer attached to said sleeve, a spur on said washer, and a trip lever pivoted on the axis of said worm and adapted to 'be engaged and turned by said spur, said switch operating mechanism adapted to be engagedand operated by said trip lever.

14. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a switch, a bracket 'adapted when moved a determinate distance in either direction, to operate the switch in one direction or the other, a rotating member, a pivoted trip lever, means operated by the rotating member adapted to actuate the trip lever, and means on the trip lever, operativein one direction of movement, and inoperative in the other direction, to actuate said bracket to operate the switch.

15. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a switch, a bracket adapted when moved a predetermined distance in either direction, to operate the switch in one direction or the other, a rotating member, a pivoted tri lever, means operated by the rotating mem er adapted to actuate the trip lever, means on the trip lever, operative in one direction of movement and inoperative in the other direction, to actuate said bracket to operate the switch in one direction, and means on the trip lever, operative in the reverse direction of movement and inoperative in the other direction, toactuate said bracket to operate the switch in the reverse direction.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a switch, a bracket adapted when moved .a predetermined distance in either direction, to operate the switch in one direction or the other, a rotating member, a trip, operated by the rotating member, operative in one direction of move- 'ment of the rotating member, and inoperative in the other dlrection, to actuate the bracket to operate the switch in one direction, and a second trip operated by the rotating member, operative in the opposite direction of movement of the rotating member and inoperative in the first named direction thereof, to actuate the bracket to operate the switch in the reverse direction.

17. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a switch, a bracket adapted when moved a determinate dis tance in either direction, to operate the switch in one direction or the other, aroscribed, in combination, a switch, a bracket adapted when moved a determinate distance in either direction, to operate the switch in one direction or the other, a rotating member, a trip lever pivoted between its ends, means operated by the rotating member to engage and turn said trip lever in opposite directions, a trip carried onone end of said lever adapted, in one direction of movement of the trip lever, to actuate said bracket to operate the switch in one direction, and a trip carried on the other end of said lever adapted in the other direction of movement of the trip lever, to actuate said bracket to operate the switch in the other direction.

19. In an apparatusof the character described, in combination, a switch,'a bracket adapted when moved a determinate distance in either direction, to operate the switch in one direction or the other, a trip lever pivoted between its ends and having two cam trips at opposite ends thereof, each cam having a long face and a short face, the two long faces being on one side of the lever and the two short faces on the other side of the lever, said trip lever being weighted so as to normally hold the long face of the first cam trip against the bracket, a rotating member, means operated thereby to turn the trip lever in successively opposite directions so as to operate the bracket, in the movement of the trip lever in one direction,

. first by the long face of the first cam-trip and next by the short face of the second cam trip, thereby moving the bracket in its second engagement a dlstance sufficient to actuate the switch in one direction, and so as to operate the bracket, in the movement of the trip lever in the other direction, first by the short face of the second long trip, thereby moving the bracket in its first'engagement a distance sufiicientto actuate the switch in the other direction.

20. In an apparatus of. the characterdescribed, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, switch operating mechanism for controlling said circuit, a rotating member operated by the motor, a worm rotating with the rotating member, a nut working on the the last named members being arranged at i non-uniform distances apart aboutthe axis of the worm, thereby permitting a fine adjustment of the nut relatively to the guiding arm.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a motor, a motor circuit, switch operating mechanism for controlling sald clrcuit, a rotatlng member opthe rotating member, a nut working on the worm, said nut having holes, a sleeve splined on the worm and connected with the nut so as to move therewith, a washer on the worm, means actuated by the washer adapted to control the operation of the switchoperating mechanism, and a screw adapted to engage one of several holes in the sleeve and one of several holes in the washer, the

holes in one of the two last-named members being arranged at uniform distances apart about the axis of theworm and the holes in the other member being arranged at nonuniform distances about the axis of the worm thereby permitting a fine adjustment of the washer relatively to the sleeve.

In testimony of which invention, I have hereunto set my hand, at Philadelphia, on this 23rd day of June, 1910.

- FRANK EDWARD LUTZ. Witnesses:

FRANK S. BUSSER, M. M. HAMILTON.

' erated by the motor, a worm rotating with 

